RAPID ASSESSMENT OF PEDIATRIC HIV TREATMENT IN NIGERIA

Transcription

1 RAPID ASSESSMENT OF PEDIATRIC HIV TREATMENT IN NIGERIA JANUARY 2013 This publication was made possible through the support of the U.S. President s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) through the U.S. Agency for International Development under contract number GHH-I , AIDS Support and Technical Assistance Resources (AIDSTAR-One) Project, Sector I, Task Order 1.

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3 RAPID ASSESSMENT OF PEDIATRIC HIV TREATMENT IN NIGERIA The authors' views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. Agency for International Development or the United States Government.

4 AIDS Support and Technical Assistance Resources Project AIDS Support and Technical Assistance Resources, Sector I, Task Order 1 (AIDSTAR-One) is funded by the U.S. President s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) under contract no. GHH-I , funded January 31, AIDSTAR-One is implemented by John Snow, Inc., in collaboration with Broad Reach Healthcare, Encompass, LLC, International Center for Research on Women, MAP International, Mothers 2 Mothers, Social and Scientific Systems, Inc., University of Alabama at Birmingham, the White Ribbon Alliance for Safe Motherhood, and World Education. The project provides technical assistance services to the Office of HIV/AIDS and USG country teams in knowledge management, technical leadership, program sustainability, strategic planning, and program implementation support. Recommended Citation Dana Greeson, Bisola Ojikutu, Usman Kolapo, Molly Higgins-Biddle, Howard Cabral, and Ellen Cooper Rapid Assessment of Pediatric HIV Treatment in Nigeria. Arlington, VA: USAID s AIDS Support and Technical Assistance Resources, AIDSTAR-One, Task Order 1. Abstract Early access to antiretroviral therapy (ART) is particularly important for HIV-infected children. In Nigeria, a disparity exists between pediatric and adult ART coverage, with pediatric and adult coverage rates at 7 percent and 26 percent, respectively (WHO 2011a). To better understand barriers to pediatric treatment scale-up, AIDSTAR-One conducted an assessment of 23 treatment sites throughout Nigeria. Part I of the assessment explores site-level barriers to providing high quality pediatric HIV care and treatment services. Part II provides an overview of clinical outcomes of the children and adolescents treated at these sites and describes the impact of health systems characteristics explored in Part I on outcomes and quality of care. Part I AIDSTAR-One developed a comprehensive Site Assessment Tool and Walk-through Checklist for administration at the selected sites. Analysis of the data collected highlighted a number of significant barriers to the provision of quality pediatric HIV treatment. These included human resources constraints, lack of caregiver involvement, lack of disclosure, antiretroviral adherence issues, limited adolescent-specific care, difficulties with data management, and inadequate resources onsite. Recommendations for mitigating these barriers and improving the quality of pediatric HIV care and treatment are offered in this document. Part II AIDSTAR-One conducted a retrospective chart review including 1,516 pediatric and adolescent patients enrolled in care from 2002 to 2011 at the 23 sites surveyed. Data collected included age, weight for age (z-score), ART regimen, follow-up, and mortality. The project performed descriptive analyses and examined associations with survival and loss to follow-up using Cox proportional hazards and logistic regression. During the period of follow-up (mean 24.4 months), 4.2 percent of patients died. Loss to follow-up was 19.1 percent. Overall, treatment outcomes in the Nigerian program were encouraging. Few health systems challenges noted in Part I impacted outcomes of treatment. Interventions to ensure earlier access to ART and decrease loss to follow-up are warranted. Acknowledgments The authors would like to thank the following agencies for providing input and guidance in development of this assessment: the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)/Washington, USAID/Nigeria, the Nigerian Federal Ministry of Health, Indepth Precision Consult Limited, AIDSRelief, AIDS Prevention Initiative in Nigeria/Harvard, FHI/Global HIV/AIDS Initiative Nigeria, Institute of Human Virology Nigeria, International Center for AIDS Care and Treatment Programs, Management Sciences for Health Prevention and Organizational Systems AIDS Care and Treatment, and Christian Health Association of Nigeria. The authors would also like to thank Benjamin R. Phelps (USAID) and Anouk Amzel (USAID) of the U.S. President s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief Treatment Technical Working Group, Emeka Okechukwu (USAID/Nigeria), Azeez Aderemi (Federal Ministry of Health), and all of the respondents who participated in the assessment. AIDSTAR-One John Snow, Inc Fort Myer Drive, 16th Floor Arlington, VA USA Phone: Fax: info@aidstar-one.com Internet: aidstar-one.com

5 CONTENTS Acronyms... vii Executive Summary... ix Part I... ix Part II... xi Introduction... 1 Pediatric HIV and Treatment... 1 Pediatric HIV and Treatment in Nigeria... 2 Nigeria s 2010 Pediatric ART Guidelines... 2 Part I: Methodology... 5 Assessment Tools Development... 5 Training and Pilot... 5 Role of Federal Ministry of Health and State Ministry of Health... 6 Onsite Rapid Assessments... 6 Limitations... 6 Part I: Results... 7 Human Resources... 7 Staff Training... 7 Guidelines and Protocols... 8 HIV Care (Pre-ART)... 8 ART Eligibility and Initiation... 9 ART... 9 Monitoring and Evaluation... 9 Service Delivery Models Service Integration Adolescent Services HIV-exposed Infants Adherence Defaulters TB/HIV Co-infection Supportive Services Nutrition Community Engagement Pharmacy Laboratory v

6 Early Infant Diagnosis Walk-through Checklist Part I: Overview and Recommendations Human Resources Caregivers Disclosure Adherence Adolescents Data Management Site Resources Part II: Methodology, Results, and Conclusion Methodology Results Results Summary Conclusion References Appendix A Appendix B Appendix C Appendix D Figures Figure 1. Map of Nigerian States Figure 2. Services Offering Pediatric HIV Testing & Counseling Figure 3. Entry Point for Exposed Infants and EID Integration Tables Table 1. Topics Covered by Site Assessment Tool... 5 Table 2. Training Topics Covered at Sites... 7 Table 3. Service Integration Table 4. Services Tailored to Adolescents by Site Table 5. Psychosocial Support Services Offered by Site Table 6. Growth Monitoring Methods Used by Site Table 7. Decision Aids Available by Site Table 8. Supplies/Equipment Available at Sites Table 9. Characteristics of Sampled Pediatric and Adolescent Patients in Nigerian Treatment Program 30 Table 10. Quality Data Table 11. Bivariate Analysis of Immunosuppression and Quality Indicators Table 12. Outcomes from the Pediatric HIV Treatment Program Table 13. Factors Associated with Death and Loss to Follow-Up vi

7 ACRONYMS 3TC lamivudine AFASS acceptable, feasible, affordable, sustainable, and safe ALHIV adolescents living with HIV ANC antenatal care ART antiretroviral therapy ARV antiretroviral ASW adherence support worker AZT zidovudine CBO community-based organization CD4 cluster of differentiation 4 CDC U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CTX cotrimoxazole d4t stavudine DBS dried blood spot DHMT District Health Management Team DMO District Medical Officer EFV efavirenz EID early infant diagnosis EPI Expanded Programme in Immunization FDC fixed dose combination FMoH Federal Ministry of Health GOPD general outpatient department HR human resources IMCI integrated management of childhood illness INH isoniazid IP implementing partner LFT liver function test LPV/r lopinavir/ritonavir MDG Millennium Development Goal vii

8 NHREC NNRTI NRTI NVP OVC PCR PLHIV PMO PMTCT SAPC SMOH SMS TAT TB TWG WHO UNAIDS UNICEF National Health Research Ethics Committee of Nigeria non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor nevirapine orphans and vulnerable children polymerase chain reaction people living with HIV Provincial Medical Officer prevention of mother-to-child transmission State HIV/AIDS Programme Coordinator State Ministries of Health short message service turnaround time tuberculosis technical working group World Health Organization Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS United Nations Children s Fund viii

9 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Antiretroviral therapy (ART) has averted an estimated 2.5 million deaths in resource-limited settings since 1995 (WHO 2011a). Early access to antiretrovirals (ARVs) is particularly important for HIVinfected children whose naturally underdeveloped immune systems increase their vulnerability to opportunistic infections as well as common, but severe, childhood illnesses. Nigeria faces a generalized HIV epidemic with a prevalence of 3.6 percent in 2009 (WHO 2011a). The prevalence rate and population density in Nigeria combine to make it home to the second largest number of people living with HIV in the world after South Africa (WHO 2011a). In 2009, approximately 3,300,000 people in Nigeria were living with HIV, including 360,000 children (UNAIDS 2010). As is the case globally, a disparity exists between pediatric and adult ART coverage in Nigeria, with pediatric and adult ART coverage rates at 7 percent and 26 six percent, respectively (WHO 2011a). Following the World Health Organization s (WHO) 2010 revision of Antiretroviral Therapy for HIV Infection in Infants and Children: Towards Universal Access, the Nigerian Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH) released a national adaptation, National Guidelines on Paediatric HIV and AIDS Treatment and Care. The revised national guidelines call for improved pediatric HIV treatment through measures such as initiating all HIV-positive children younger than two years of age on treatment, irrespective of clinical or immunological status (Federal Ministry of Health [FMoH] 2010). In 2011, AIDSTAR-One conducted a rapid assessment of pediatric HIV treatment scale-up in Nigeria to better understand the barriers to providing and expanding high quality pediatric HIV care and treatment services. The assessment was funded by the PEPFAR s Pediatric Treatment Technical Working Group (TWG). AIDSTAR-One worked in collaboration with the Nigerian FMOH and USAID/Nigeria. AIDSTAR-One hired Indepth Precision Consult Limited as a local consulting organization tasked with finding local data capturers and overseeing day-to-day assessment logistics. The assessment was divided into two components. In Part I, AIDSTAR-One developed and administered a comprehensive Site Assessment Tool and Walk-through Checklist at 23 sites in order to identify barriers to the delivery of high quality pediatric and adolescent HIV/AIDS care and treatment services in Nigeria. In Part II of the assessment, AIDSTAR-One conducted a retrospective chart review of 1,516 pediatric and adolescent patients enrolled in care from 2002 to 2011 at the 23 sites surveyed in order to determine outcomes of care. PART I Specific Objectives: 1. Identify barriers and facilitators to the delivery of high quality pediatric and adolescent HIV/AIDS care and treatment services in Nigeria. 2. Assess resources available and necessary to implement and expand pediatric treatment services. ix

10 The Federal Ministry of Health selected 23 pediatric ART sites across 10 states for the assessment (see Appendix A). The study protocol and assessment tools were submitted to the National Health Research Ethics Committee of Nigeria (NHREC) and approved on April 9, AIDSTAR-One performed a desk review and developed a Site Assessment Form and Walk-through Checklist for administration at the 23 sites. These tools covered the following domains: human resources, treatment guidelines, ART eligibility and initiation, adolescent services, adherence, nutrition, community engagement, and pharmacy and laboratory services. AIDSTAR-One facilitated a three-day training session with six data collectors, which included a pilot at three sites in Abuja. In concordance with FMOH protocol, teams visited the State HIV/AIDS Program Coordinators (SAPC) in each location to explain the goals of the assessment and seek permission for site visits. Analysis of the data collected in the AIDSTAR-One tools and by implementing partners highlighted the most prominent barriers to providing quality pediatric HIV treatment. These included: Persistent human resources constraints, most notably the standard reassignment of trained personnel The inability of some caregivers to meet patients needs Lack of pediatric and adolescent disclosure Patient and caregiver difficulty adhering to ART Limited availability of targeted care, treatment, and support programs for adolescents Data management challenges Inadequate resources (equipment, tools, etc.) at the facility A number of strategies to overcome the barriers noted have been proposed: Human resources Limiting the number of trained personnel who were transferred to other sites would go a long way in mitigating HR challenges, allowing facilities to better serve their patients. Caregiver support Support systems must be improved for caregivers of pediatric and adolescents living with HIV. Similar to the mentor mother model initiated by mothers2mothers, AIDSTAR-One suggests a mentor caregiver initiative whereby attentive (nonparental) caregivers mentor those who are struggling, through psychosocial support and advice. Disclosure A number of resources are available online. One helpful resource for providers is included in the International Center for AIDS Care and Treatment Programs Adolescent HIV Care and Treatment: A Training Curriculum for Multidisciplinary Health Care Teams. Module 7 is on Providing Disclosure Counseling and Support. Available at: Adherence Children at various ages can be provided with pill calendars and can be encouraged to personalize them or make their own. This is an inexpensive way for children and adolescents living with HIV to learn medication management. Adolescents With the increasing population of adolescents living with HIV, more clinics should consider targeting services to this group. AIDSTAR-One has created an Adolescent Toolkit for providers of ALHIV, which will be posted on the AIDSTAR-One website in the coming months. x

11 The Toolkit address issues such as disclosure and dating and provides guidance on psychosocial support. Data Management Implementing partners and/or individual sites that are successfully managing patient data electronically should be asked to share best practices in electronic medical records (EMR) training and implementation with the FMOH for use with other implementing partners (IPs)/sites that are ready to make the transition to EMR. The successful expansion of EMRs across more sites would also serve to improve data collected at the national level. PART II Part II of this study describes pediatric and adolescent outcomes in Nigeria and explores the impact of site characteristics on loss to follow-up and mortality. A retrospective chart review was conducted including a systematically sampled cohort of patients who initiated ART from 2002 to The sample included 1,516 patients from the 23 assessment sites. Data collected included age, weight for age (z-score), ART regimen, visit dates and mortality, and several quality indicators. Overall, mean age at initiation was 64 months (standard deviation [SD] 51.7). Severe immunosuppression (see Appendix A) was noted in 45 percent (653) at enrollment. Mean z-score was 1.1 (SD 4.0). Median duration of follow-up was 24.4 months. Mean time from ART eligibility to ART initiation was 26.2 weeks (SD 43.0). The most common initial regimen was AZT/3TC/NVP (81.5 percent). Mortality within 90 days of ART initiation was 1.9 percent. A total of 4.2 percent died during the period of follow-up (mean 24.4 months). Loss to follow-up was 19.1 percent. In bivariate results, weight for age z-score, moderate to severe immunosuppression, and receiving care at a rural treatment site were significantly associated with mortality. In multivariate results, adjusting for other factors, moderate to severe immunosuppression and rural treatment site remained as predictors of mortality. Moderate to severe immunosuppression, age younger than two years, and a delay to ART initiation of greater than 12 weeks were significantly associated with loss to follow-up. In multivariate results, adjusting for other factors, both age younger than two years and a delay to ART initiation greater than 12 weeks remained significant. Overall, treatment outcomes in the Nigerian program were encouraging. Few health system challenges noted in Part I impacted outcomes of treatment. Interventions to ensure earlier access to ART and decrease loss to follow-up are warranted. xi

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13 INTRODUCTION PEDIATRIC HIV AND TREATMENT Antiretroviral therapy (ART) has averted an estimated 2.5 million deaths in resource-limited settings since 1995 (WHO 2011a). Combination ART has revolutionized the HIV epidemic by increasing the lifespan of people living with HIV (PLHIV), enhancing quality of life, and decreasing transmission rates by reducing viral load. HIV treatment is no longer universally synonymous with daily pill burden and harsh side effects. Fixed dose combinations (FDCs) two or more active antiretrovirals (ARVs) combined in a single fixed dose have improved ART adherence through decreased pill burden, more manageable dosing schedules, and fewer side effects and interactions. Several global initiatives have set goals to expand ART coverage among those populations most vulnerable to HIV. In 2003, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) 3 by 5 initiative aimed to reach three million people worldwide with ART by the end of When the initiative began, only 400,000 people were on ARVs globally. The goal of reaching three million people was eventually achieved in By the end of 2010, 6.65 million people were on ART (WHO 2011a). In 2000, the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) were developed. Goal 6B aimed to achieve universal access to HIV treatment for persons in need by The impetus for the inclusion of this goal was due to infections continuing to surpass treatment scale-up, and evidence indicating that treatment expansion for HIV-positive women of childbearing years could also protect their babies (UN MDGs 2011). Between 2007 and 2010, the global number of clinical care facilities providing ART tripled (from 7,700 to 22,400), and ART coverage increased 16-fold from 2003 to 2010 (WHO 2011a). Despite this commendable scale-up effort, less than half of the people eligible for treatment were accessing ARVs by the end of In 2009, the number of children (under 15 years of age) living with HIV reached 2.5 million (UNAIDS 2010). Although global adult ART coverage is 51 percent, ART coverage for children is at only 23 percent (456,000 children). The disparity between pediatric and adult ART coverage has been associated with complicated diagnostics and weight-based dosing, a rigorous cascade of care, unavailability of pediatric ART formulations, and the later implementation of pediatric HIV programs and drug regimens in health facilities. Concerning attrition rates along the entire pediatric cascade of care emphasize the importance of additional community supports and linkages within the health system (WHO 2011a). Early access to ARVs is particularly important for HIV-infected infants whose naturally underdeveloped immune systems increase their vulnerability to opportunistic infections as well as common, but severe, childhood illnesses. Without early diagnosis and treatment, approximately onethird of HIV-infected infants will die before their first birthday and almost half before their second birthday. Appropriate diagnostics and treatment coupled with strong adherence make it possible for HIV-infected infants to reach adolescence and adulthood (WHO 2011a). 1

14 PEDIATRIC HIV AND TREATMENT IN NIGERIA Nigeria faces a generalized HIV epidemic with a prevalence of 3.6 percent in 2009 (WHO 2011a). The prevalence rate and population density in Nigeria combine to make it home to the second largest number of people living with HIV in the world after South Africa (WHO 2011a). In 2009, approximately 3,300,000 people in Nigeria were living with HIV, including 360,000 children (UNAIDS 2010). ART coverage in Nigeria was reported at 26 percent, with 359,181 people receiving ART. This coverage rate increased 19 percent from In 2010, people on ART in Nigeria accounted for 5 percent of all people on ART in low- and middle-income countries (WHO 2011a). Similar to the global situation, there is a disparity between pediatric and adult ART coverage in Nigeria with coverage rates at 7 percent and 26 percent, respectively (WHO 2011a). NIGERIA S 2010 PEDIATRIC ART GUIDELINES Following the World Health Organization s (WHO) 2010 revision of Antiretroviral Therapy for HIV Infection in Infants and Children: Towards Universal Access, the Nigerian Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH) released a national adaptation to previous guidelines, National Guidelines on Paediatric HIV and AIDS Treatment and Care. The updated guidelines are intended to: 1. Provide standardized management protocols based on current evidence for children infected with or exposed to HIV infection. 2. Provide guidance for monitoring and evaluation of comprehensive pediatric HIV and AIDS services. 3. Serve as a reference document to advisory boards, program managers, and other policymakers involved in pediatric HIV/AIDS programming. In accordance with the updated guidelines, health care providers are instructed to initiate all HIVpositive children younger than 24 months of age on ART. Children 24 months with a positive rapid test are initiated on ART based on immunologic criteria (WHO clinical stage is 3 or 4 irrespective of CD4 count or CD4%; CD4 count is 750 cells/mm3 or 25% in children aged months with WHO clinical stage 1 or 2; and CD4 count is 350 cells/mm3 or 25% in children 5 years with WHO clinical stage 1 or 2). Previous guidelines (2007) recommended using immunologic criteria to determine initiation for all children irrespective of age. The recommended first-line regimen in Nigeria for children younger than three years of age is a non-nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI) based regimen comprised of nevirapine (NVP) and zidovudine (AZT) + lamivudine (3TC). Children older than three years of age are started on either efavirenz (EFV) or NVP and AZT + 3TC. If exposure to NVP for prevention of motherto-child transmission (PMTCT) is documented, then the guidelines recommend starting a protease inhibitor based regimen including lopinavir/ritonavir. During the period of this study, children may have initiated alternative regimens based upon previous guidelines or the presence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) co-infection. 2

15 OVERVIEW In October 2011, AIDSTAR-One conducted a rapid assessment of pediatric HIV treatment scale-up in Nigeria to better understand the barriers to providing and/or expanding high quality pediatric HIV care and treatment services. The assessment was funded by PEPFAR s Pediatric Treatment Technical Working Group (TWG). AIDSTAR-One worked in collaboration with the Nigerian FMoH and USAID/Nigeria, and hired Indepth Precision Consult Limited as a local consulting organization tasked with hiring local data capturers and overseeing day-to-day assessment logistics. The assessment was divided into two components. In Part I, AIDSTAR-One developed and administered a comprehensive Site Assessment Tool and Walk-through Checklist at 23 sites in October The goal of Part I of this assessment was to identify barriers to the delivery of high quality pediatric and adolescent HIV/AIDS care and treatment services in Nigeria. In Part II of the assessment, AIDSTAR-One conducted a retrospective chart review of 1,516 pediatric and adolescent patients enrolled in care from 2002 to 2011 at the 23 sites surveyed in order to determine outcomes of care and explore the impact of site characteristics on loss to follow-up and mortality (please see Part II for detailed chart review methodology). ETHICAL REVIEW AIDSTAR-One s rapid assessment of pediatric treatment scale-up was conducted in October The study protocol and assessment tools were submitted to the National Health Research Ethics Committee of Nigeria (NHREC) and approved on April 9, Informed consent was obtained prior to site survey administration for Part I. Individual signed, informed consent was waived for Part II (the retrospective chart review). Dr. Wapada Balami, the National AIDS Coordinator, notified the State AIDS Program Coordinators (SAPCs) of this activity in advance of the start of the assessment. The SAPCs, in turn, sent letters to the Medical Superintendents of the selected assessment sites to grant permission for the assessments to commence. SITE SELECTION The FMoH used purposive sampling to select 23 pediatric ART sites across 10 states for the assessment (see Appendix C). The criteria guiding site selection included geographic location (Figure 1), setting (i.e., urban, peri-urban, or rural), and site type (i.e., primary, secondary, and tertiary hospitals). Selected sites also varied in terms of which implementing partner (IP) they received support from. IPs included AIDSRelief, AIDS Prevention Initiative in Nigeria/Harvard, FHI/Global HIV/AIDS Initiative Nigeria, Institute of Human Virology Nigeria, International Center for AIDS Care and Treatment Programs, Management Sciences for Health Prevention and Organizational Systems AIDS Care and Treatment, or Christian Health Association of Nigeria. 3

16 Figure 1. Map of Nigerian States Source: 4

17 PART I: METHODOLOGY Part I of this report will detail site assessment methodology, findings, and programmatic recommendations. ASSESSMENT TOOLS DEVELOPMENT AIDSTAR-One developed two tools for this assessment: the Site Assessment Tool and the Walkthrough Checklist. Prior to developing the assessment tools, AIDSTAR-One conducted a comprehensive review of key program documents, including national guideline; relevant treatment protocols; and national and site program data, reports, and abstracts. National IPs and site staff were interviewed to provide contextual data and gray literature, including any additional reports and internal documents as available. The medical literature was reviewed for pertinent published documents to guide the tool development. SITE ASSESSMENT TOOL The Site Assessment Tool contains both quantitative and qualitative questions covering 10 domains (Table 1). The tool was designed to be administered to various health care providers of HIVinfected children (i.e., medical and clinical officers, pediatric HIV nurses, laboratory technologists or technicians, and pharmacists or pharmacy technicians). Table 1. Topics Covered by Site Assessment Tool Human resources Treatment guidelines ART eligibility and initiation Adolescent services Adherence Nutrition Community engagement Pharmacy services Laboratory services Early infant diagnosis WALK-THROUGH CHECKLIST The Walk-through Checklist was designed for data capturers to conduct an independent assessment of available resources and tools. The goal was to determine the resources and space available to pediatric HIV providers and patients. Topics include basic resources (i.e., water, electricity, and telephone), decision aids, pediatric equipment, and pediatric friendly physical space. TRAINING AND PILOT Prior to data collection, AIDSTAR-One facilitated a three-day training session with six data collectors in Abuja, Nigeria. Three of the six data collectors were nurses who worked in HIV care, while the remaining three had experience working on HIV programs and research studies. The training curriculum reviewed pediatric HIV and treatment in the global and Nigerian contexts and covered assessment objectives, methodology, and logistics. Assessment tools were reviewed in detail with an in-class role-play and a pre- and post-training assessment test. 5

18 On the second training day, the group divided into three teams (each with a nurse) and visited three separate pediatric ART facilities in Abuja to pilot the tools. The following day, teams regrouped to discuss lessons learned, seek clarification of objectives and methodology, provide feedback, and give input into the revision of the tools. The groups also reviewed the Access database and input the data collected from the pilot facilities. ROLE OF FEDERAL MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND STATE MINISTRY OF HEALTH Prior to the training date, the FMoH wrote to the various State Ministries of Health (SMoH) about the assessment that would take place in their domain. The SMoH in turn informed the specific health facilities of the assessment and expected visit date. On arrival at each state, the team visited the SAPCs who are the state representatives on this project. Teams presented a copy of the FMoH letter and briefed the SAPCs on the assessment and asked permission to visit the facilities on the scheduled dates. The teams also visited the contact person at each IP that supported an assessment site(s). The various facilities, SMoH, and the ART focal persons mentioned their desire to receive the assessment results in order to inform pediatric HIV programs at their sites. ONSITE RAPID ASSESSMENTS Upon arrival at each facility, the teams presented the IP representative and the ART focal person with copies of the FMoH and SMoH approval letters and reviewed the assessment protocol. The point of contact introduced teams to the appropriate respondents for the site assessment form. Teams were flexible with their schedules and mindful of respondents workloads so as to minimize interruptions to patient care. Following introductions and explanations of the aforementioned forms to the respondent, an AIDSTAR-One team member read the informed consent and the respondent provided verbal consent. While administering the Site Assessment Form, one team member read the questions aloud, while another wrote the answers on a separate hard copy of the form. The third team member conducted the Walk-through Checklist while the interviews occurred. Prior to leaving the sites, team leaders reviewed Site Assessment Forms and Walk-through Checklists to ensure clarity and completion. After the site visits, team leaders entered the data into a Microsoft Access Database (Microsoft, Inc., Redmond, WA). LIMITATIONS This assessment has several limitations. The sample size utilized is small and was limited to 10 of the 36 Nigerian states. Data was collected from health care providers who were readily available onsite. Data collectors were instructed to be cognizant of providers workloads and to be flexible in scheduling meeting times. In some cases, the optimal person to speak with at the facility was unavailable. Since data collectors had a limited number of days in each location, they captured data from alternate individuals. Although these limitations exist, this report provides some insight into pediatric treatment challenges in Nigeria. A larger study would be necessary to ensure generalizability. 6

19 PART I: RESULTS HUMAN RESOURCES Human resource constraints are well recognized throughout health care systems in resource limited settings, and Nigeria is no exception. Eighteen of the 23 sites reported that retention of staff is a significant problem within their pediatric HIV program. The most commonly reported reason for staff departure was standard reassignment (n = 15) followed by funding constraints (n = 6). Several respondents stated that staff had reached out to the hospital management board, the commissioner of health, and/or the state government to discuss the challenges created by frequent staff reassignment. According to respondents, the State Hospital Management Board has prevented the transfer of some trained staff members in response to facility requests. However, retention of sufficient staff to meet patient needs continues to be an ongoing concern. STAFF TRAINING In light of high staff turnaround and revised pediatric treatment protocols, trainings are an important means of keeping staff informed of best practices in providing high quality treatment to pediatric HIV patients. Sites were asked whether specific topics had been included in recent trainings (within the last year) attended by pediatric HIV staff members. Responses are presented in Table 2. Table 2. Training Topics Covered at Sites Training Topic Number of sites reporting inclusion of topic in recent trainings (%) Growth and nutrition assessment 17 (74%) Physical examination 17 (74%) Assessing developmental progress 14 (61%) Ongoing ART eligibility assessments for HIVinfected children not yet on ART 17 (74%) Respondents were asked to identify gaps within the pediatric training program at their site. Several respondents requested trainings in pediatric developmental assessments. Most sites reported that they desire more training in pediatric HIV care in general. Other respondents desired instruction on providing youth-friendly services to adolescents. Nineteen site respondents (83%) reported that clinical mentoring is offered to pediatric HIV staff. Thirteen of these sites (68%) rated the clinical mentoring as very effective, while the remaining six (26%) rated it moderately effective. 7

20 GUIDELINES AND PROTOCOLS As noted, in 2010, Nigeria revised their national pediatric treatment guidelines. The new guidelines were printed in October 2010 and were issued to implementing partners at that time. Eighteen sites (78%) reported following Nigeria s 2010 guideline recommendations in their entirety, whereas three (13%) reported following some of the new recommendations. The remaining two sites had not received copies of the updated guidelines and noted that they would implement them once received. Sites reporting partial implementation of the updated guidelines had not yet been able to initiate all HIV-positive infants and children younger than two years on ART. Sites reported a variety of training methods used to implement the 2010 guidelines. Implementing partners typically provided a comprehensive training for their sites. In some cases, the senior clinicians (e.g., Resident Doctors and Medical Officers) at a site attended a training prior to engaging additional staff in a step-down training. Some sites disseminated copies of the guidelines to each relevant health care worker with key issues highlighted. Challenges to guideline implementation included stock outs of first-line and second-line ART and reagents making it impossible to provide the optimal services outlined in the guidelines. Staffing issues such as strikes, inadequate training, frequent staff transfers, and a shortage of doctors also make the guidelines challenging to implement. As noted, two sites simply had no copies of the updated guidelines. For sites that were able to implement all or some of the guidelines, respondents reported that patient quality of care improved after guideline implementation. The updated guidance on breastfeeding that is, exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months followed by continued breastfeeding with complimentary feeding from 6 months to 12 months reduced malnutrition among infants, according to respondents. Some respondents mentioned that the updated PMTCT guidelines give HIV-infected pregnant and breastfeeding women increased access to ART, resulting in healthier mothers who are better able to provide for their young children. Sites also mentioned that they were encouraged by the recommended introduction of an adolescent treatment and support program. HIV CARE (PRE-ART) Pre-ART care spans from HIV diagnosis to the initiation of ART. During this period, infants, children, and adolescents are at high risk of death and loss to follow-up. Therefore, it is critical that treatment sites provide supportive services and adjunctive therapy to promote retention in care. All 23 sites reported providing cotrimoxazole (CTX) prophylaxis to pre-art patients. Ninety-nine percent of pediatric ART patients sampled in the chart review had been prescribed CTX at some point during their care (see Part II). Over 80 percent of sites also provided clinical services, nutrition counseling, food supplements, psychosocial support, and counseling to these patients. Three sites (13%) sites added that they make special provisions for orphans and vulnerable children (OVCs), including providing clothing and/or financial and nutritional support. Respondents noted a number of challenges to providing care to HIV-positive children who are not yet eligible for ART. The most commonly mentioned challenge was loss to follow-up and missed appointments with providers speculating that loss to follow-up is higher among pre-art patients because they are asked to return for clinical visits, but not to pick up ART. Respondents suggested that caregivers may need more education regarding the importance of follow-up during the pre-art period. Without the incentive of receiving life-prolonging drugs at facility visits, caregivers may feel 8

21 that barriers such as long distances, transportation costs, and missing work outweigh the perceived benefits of the visit. Several providers mentioned that there is sometimes pressure from caregivers who ask that their children be initiated on ART despite ineligibility. Sites also noted that laboratory delays and caregivers inabilities to pay for certain laboratory tests have delayed ART initiation and, in some cases, compromised patient care. ART ELIGIBILITY AND INITIATION Nineteen sites reported initiating all children younger than two years of age on ART, irrespective of immunological status (83%). Most sites reported initiation criteria in line with the 2010 guidelines. Nineteen sites also reported initiating children on ART based on clinical staging when CD4 counts/percentages were not available. Twelve sites reported an average of less than two weeks from eligibility for ART to initiation. Seven sites reported an average of between two and four weeks, three took more than a month, and one was unsure. ART Reported barriers to the provision of pediatric ART were a shortage of trained staff, drug stock outs, lack of space, failure of caregivers to take referred patients to specialist centers (sometimes due to transport costs), inability to perform viral loads, and malnutrition which respondents felt was especially prevalent among orphans. Respondents were most encouraged by the general improvements in the health of their patients as advances in pediatric ART continue to be implemented at the site level. Nine sites reported the ability to dispense pediatric medications to caregivers without the child present whereas 14 sites reported that the pediatric patient had to be present at each drug pick up. In cases of suspected or confirmed treatment failure, nine sites reported referring patients to specialist centers and the same number of assessment sites reported being specialist centers themselves. Five sites reported that a treatment expert visited on a regular basis. MONITORING AND EVALUATION In regard to monitoring and evaluation, most sites reported using some combination of EMR, patient paper files, patient-held cards, and/or registers. Half of the sites (n = 12) use EMRs. All of these sites also recorded patient information in registers and 11 also used patient paper files. Nine of the sites using EMRs also utilized patient-held cards which include information on demographics, enrollment, ART initiation including eligibility criteria (see Appendix B) met and initial regimen, substitutions or changes in regimen, and any discontinuations or interruptions in treatment. Overall, 21 sites used patient paper file and/or registers. Seventeen sites utilized patient-held cards. Most sites (n = 22) reporting have a functioning Quality Improvement Team. These teams were located either external to the site or were based at the site. Twenty sites (87%) reported that pediatric HIV program staff had been trained on quality improvement. 9

22 SERVICE DELIVERY MODELS Sites reported using a variety of service delivery models. Twelve sites reported seeing pediatric and adult ART patients during the same time in the same place. Six sites reported using the same space to see pediatric and adult ART patients but at different times. Three sites contained a separate area where the pediatric clinic was held. Mobile clinics provide HIV patients with increased accessibility to services. Thirty-nine percent of sites reported providing some type of pediatric HIV service through mobile clinics. Of these nine sites, HIV rapid testing and counseling was the most common service provided (n = 7), followed by drug dispensation (including ARVs; n = 4). Access to pediatric HIV testing and counseling is crucial for timely treatment to occur, especially given children s increased vulnerability to opportunistic infections (OIs) due to underdeveloped immune systems. HIV-positive children who have not been diagnosed are typically seen in clinics other than the HIV clinic for well visits, illnesses, or PMTCT related care. It is therefore important that pediatric testing is accessible in various clinics within a facility. Respondents were asked whether pediatric HIV testing was available in a variety of service areas at their site. Figure 2 shows their responses. The inpatient department was the only service identified by respondents at all sites as providing pediatric HIV testing. Figure 2. Services Offering Pediatric HIV Testing & Counseling Respondents were also asked about the most common way that HIV-infected children enter into HIV care. The most common response (n = 18; 78%) was through PMTCT services (referral from antenatal clinic or labor and delivery). 10

23 SERVICE INTEGRATION Service integration has been the focus of efforts to simultaneously improve HIV-specific service delivery along with general health services. The necessity for some PLHIV to attend multiple facilities for various health care needs is often a barrier to optimal treatment outcomes. Sites were asked whether specific services were offered: 1. Within the pediatric HIV clinic 2. Onsite, but not within the pediatric HIV clinic 3. By referral only 4. Not available onsite or by referral. Table 3 displays the number of sites offering each service in each location category. For those services accessed by referral to other sites, the referral process ranged from formal to informal by site. Services commonly offered within the pediatric HIV clinic were Integrated Management of Childhood Illness (IMCI) including malnutrition, HIV testing and counseling, ART adherence counseling, and phlebotomy. Services commonly offered onsite, but outside of the pediatric HIV clinic, were antenatal care, immunization, and family planning. Values over 50 percent are highlighted within the table. Table 3. Service Integration Services Number of sites with: Access within pediatric HIV clinic (%) Access onsite, but not in pediatric HIV clinic (%) Access within pediatric HIV clinic (%) Antenatal care (ANC) 4 (17%) 16 (70%) 3 (13%) - Immunization (EPI) 5 (22%) 16 (70%) 2 (9%) - Family planning 6 (26%) 16 (70%) 1 (4%) - Integrated management of childhood illness (IMCI) including 17 (74%) 6 (26%) - - malnutrition Inpatient 9 (39%) 14 (61%) - - HIV testing & counseling 15 (65%) 8 (35%) - - ART adherence counseling 18 (78%) 5 (22%) - - Phlebotomy 15 (65%) 7 (30%) 1 (4%) - TB treatment 8 (35%) 13 (57%) 1 (4%) 1 (4%) Psychosocial support* 14 (61%) 7 (30%) - - Linkages to other support services (i.e., housing, legal services)* 9 (39%) 7 (30%) 4 (17%) 2 (9%) * The total number of sites does not add up to 23 in these rows due to blank fields. No access onsite or by referral (%) 11

24 ADOLESCENT SERVICES Advances in pediatric HIV treatment have led to a growing number of perinatally infected children reaching adolescence. The growing number of adolescents living with HIV (ALHIV) has resulted in increased advocacy for this group and recognition of their unique care and treatment needs. Although WHO defines the adolescent age range as between 10 and 19 years of age, many sites base decisions on whether to transition pediatric patients to adult services on physical and cognitive development. The median reported upper age limit at sites for pediatric HIV programs was 14 (median range: 13 18). Only two sites had established a specific clinic day for ALHIV. Eleven sites reported seeing adolescent patients in the pediatric clinic, whereas 16 saw them with adult ART patients. Sites were asked which of the five services in Table 4 were available and tailored to ALHIV. Those most commonly offered were tailored psychosocial support and positive prevention. According to data from the chart review, 45 percent (n = 27) of female pediatric ART patients aged 15 and older had received family planning counseling. Table 4. Services Tailored to Adolescents by Site Services tailored to adolescents Number of sites offering service (%) Family planning and contraceptives 12 (52%) Psychosocial support 18 (78%) Peer support groups 15 (65%) Disclosure support 14 (61%) When asked about the main challenges in treating adolescents, the most common answers were disclosure and nonadherence. Some adolescents have not been told about their HIV status by caregivers, despite the recommendation to begin the step-by-step disclosure process in perinatally infected children at the age of six (WHO 2011b). Adolescents who have not been disclosed to may suspect their positive status based on their daily medications and talk about HIV within their communities. Accidental disclosure has been associated with poor outcomes, and deteriorated relationships within the caregiver patient unit. Engaging children and adolescents in a step-by-step disclosure process has been shown to improve ART adherence as patients often take increased ownership of their health (WHO 2011b). The issue of nonadherence among ALHIV may likely stem from a combination of other challenges that were mentioned. Respondents mentioned that many of their adolescent patients are vulnerable and/or orphans, often living in poverty without enough money for school materials or transport to appointments. Respondents also reported that adolescents sometimes become annoyed or dismissive when providers attempt to discuss safe sex. Respondents at sites that were able to provide tailored services to adolescents reported on the benefits of connecting ALHIV through clubs and support groups and expressed pride at their clinic s ability to do so. Several also mentioned adolescent patients involvement in HIV clubs within their schools. Support groups for caregivers of ALHIV were also provided at some clinics. Several respondents also discussed the scenario of adolescent patients bringing HIV-positive friends from outside of the clinic to support group meetings. 12

25 HIV-EXPOSED INFANTS For 19 (83%) of the sites, the PMTCT program was the most common way that HIV-exposed infants entered into HIV care. The second most common way was as children of adults in HIV care (n = 3). As discussed, PMTCT was also the most common way that HIV-infected children entered into HIV care. Approximately half the assessment sites (n = 11) reported following exposed infants within the HIV clinic. Seven sites followed them in the PMTCT clinic, whereas the remaining sites followed them at another clinic onsite. The barrier to exposed infant care that was mentioned most often at facilities was the lack of money for caregivers to pay for opportunity costs 1 such as transport. Other patient-oriented challenges were that many HIV-positive women deliver offsite and/or bring their exposed children in once they are visibly ill and have missed several opportunities for prophylaxis. Loss to follow-up was another common issue for exposed infants, with caregivers sometimes not returning for dried blood spot (DBS) results. Finally, several providers mentioned maternal nonadherence to safe infant feeding plans and inadequate nutritional support from the clinic. Human resource constraints are a pervasive challenge that was mentioned in nearly each focus area. Providers mentioned the need for additional staff, and specifically additional staff trained in early infant diagnosis (EID). The frequent transfers of trained staff pose an ongoing challenge. The majority of sites mentioned decreased mother-to-child transmission rates as their primary success in caring for exposed infants. As community members began to hear about the benefits of PMTCT, greater numbers of HIV-positive pregnant women began accessing the clinics and motherto-child transmission rates fell even farther. Decreased mortality was another success shared with regard to EID. Two sites mentioned that HIV-positive women from the communities come to deliver at their facilities because they know about the comprehensive PMTCT services offered. ADHERENCE All sites reported providing pediatric patients and caregivers with adherence support counseling prior to ART initiation. All but one site reported assessing adherence at every visit. Eighty-seven percent of pediatric ART patients sampled in the chart review had received adherence counseling at their last visit. Most sites (n = 21) reported that using patient/caregiver report and pill count (or measuring syrup) is an effective way to measure adherence. Laboratory tests are often used to help confirm nonadherence. Providers reported a number of ways to deal with situations where nonadherence is suspected or detected. The most common strategy involved intense counseling of the caregiver to learn the reasons for nonadherence, reemphasizing the importance of adherence and counseling them on disclosure when applicable. Counsel also involved strategies for caregivers to employ such as using an alarm clock or treatment buddy for daily reminders or mixing the medication with food when suitable. Age-appropriate counseling for children is another method used to improve adherence. An additional strategy was to decrease the time between patient drug pick-ups so that providers can more closely monitor patients. A number of sites used phone calls and home visits to provide 1 An opportunity cost is the price of the next best thing you could have done if you had made a different choice. For example, although going to two separate sites to receive TB and HIV services may be the best choice for your health, this may require you to miss work, pay for childcare, and/or pay for transportation. These are the opportunity costs. 13